Schleitheim - Latest Comments

Re: Relevant, readable, and reliable English?

S. Miller — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:34:22 -0000

I've been reading from the NLT and NKJV and get a clearer understanding of reading both. As a college student, CEB is really dumbed down and isn't language I would use in intellectual conversation or in paper BUT CEB is a version I would suggest for my some between the ages of 12 and 18, especially those who may not understand NLT or NKJV. However, when it comes to Bible study, I would compare versions for a clearer, more accurate understanding.

Re: Relevant, readable, and reliable English?

essdee — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 21:17:31 -0000

I picked the CEB both times. I like it. I think it is an exciting read, and I can see what is going on in the text. BUT-----make no mistake about it, I am NOT pleased with the 'Happy-tudes' or the 'Human One' thingy. They both are lousy translations. But, all is not lost. I own a ballpoint pen.

Re: Review of Redwall by Brian Jacques

Mary Elizabeth — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 10:07:05 -0000

Yes, there is violence in Brian Jacques works, and I must say detail is not absent in that or in anything else. I was reading the comments above and I want to point somethings out. Yes, there is SOME racism in the books, BUT... in Redwall, the good characters are willing to be kind to the rats and treat them as equals. Not all the rats are evil. I read a book in which there was a rat who changed sides and I tell you I cried with joy when that happened. :) And not all your labeled "good" creatures are good. I have read a few books in which your typical good character turned out to be a bad character.
But, LOOK at the moral values of the books themselves:

They are SO different from Harry Potter or Twilight, there isn't any love triangles, highschool drama (as if there wasn't enough!), there is no parallels writen in the books based on drama in this complex world. It is good v. evil. Where in the end, no matter how much suffering and violence and loss...good will triumph in the end. Although I don't think Brian Jacques intended to have any biblical references to his series, I can see one. No matter how much evil and hatred and war and slavery etc there is in the world, there is one thing that is in everyones hearts. Hope....a hope that there will be redemptation and knowing that in the end, good shall triumph over evil!
Yes, I quite agree that this isn't for YOUNG childeren, but I believe that children ages eight and infinity will love this series. I'm sorry if this won't convince you to read this series, I could go on a rant all day and give a deep and moving speech but I have a class to go to now and I am battling with a cold. Sadly, I don't think Martin's sword will help much. :(
A few final things though.
The rats HAD to all die. If they didn't they would go on killing innocent lives if they weren't stopped. Also, with Matthias and Sam there...Sam was a BABY and there were vermin about. If Matthias had gone out to help Scragg, he would be putting the babe (Dibbun) in danger.
One final thing. Have you only read ONE book or have you read at least six??? Don't just read one book and judge. I have read all the books and I have learned so much!! There are a lot of positive moral values in the books. Don't just point out some things and decide (and TELL) everyone that it is a bad book. Maybe if I get response to this or if I feel better later, I'll give a better review and defense. ;)
God bless and I hope you'll have a blessed season! :)
~Mary Elizabeth Age 15 3/4

Re: Christians killing Muslims in Nigeria, violence begetting violence

Artem Kalinchuk — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:55:29 -0000

Interesting that the post is not called "Muslims are killing Christians..." but vice versa. It's ok (and encouraged) to kill your enemies, people who worship someone other than Allah, according to the Quran. For Christians, killing someone is a terrible sin. Jesus said even if you have something against your brother without a reason is counted almost as killing him or her.

Re: Christians killing Muslims in Nigeria, violence begetting violence

Muslima61 — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 09:24:12 -0000

huh, Christians dont lie??? okkk. sorry but they are as bad as each other... to what point.. both should be living in peace, not War.

Re: Dick Cheney and Gitmo cartoon

Jason — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 18:08:41 -0000

I think I may prefer waterboarding to Cheny reading

Re: Not sure what to think of the Dr. King memorial

Jason — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 18:01:56 -0000

I would say look at the source of the Memorial, then realize these things are on par with having a street named after you. They have no true meaning other than political posturing. It is up to actual people to pass on the message of other people.

Re: First get Married, then get married

Jason — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 17:27:46 -0000

I would have to agree entirely with what you are saying here. My wife and I had this exact conversation just the other day.

Re: Profound quote from Defenseless Christianity

Jason Cormier — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 17:19:46 -0000

Amen indeed.

Re: Book review: Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions For Kids

Cbgardner39 — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 07:34:33 -0000

This book is great. Short, simple daily devotions that are written as if Jesus is talking directly to the reader using I, Me, My, Mine always meaning Jesus and you and your meaning the reader. Example The devil wants your attention too. He knows the things that will distract you from me - too much tv, a game you just can't put down, or a friend who tempts you to make bad choices.. The devil tries to trip you up. Another is "If something is troubling you, talk to ME about it. If someone gets on your nerves, don't focus on that person. Turn your thoughts back to ME. I just can't say enough about how good this book is.

Re: Mapping the meal gap

martyrologist — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 17:39:48 -0000

I am so in!

Re: Mapping the meal gap

Tallskinnykiwi — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 08:19:39 -0000

hey - off the topic here but it was so cool to have you participate in 2010. I think it made a big difference. Can we count on you to do another post on Sep 11, 2011??? Sign up here. http://tallskinnykiwi.typepad....

Re: Jesus, please put down your whip.

martyrologist — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 00:18:47 -0000

Thanks for taking the time to read and respond. Couple things. First, I'm not really sure what the direct relevance of a letter from Paul to the Thessalonian church is to this story of Jesus cleansing the Temple. Perhaps I overlooked it. Second, was there a particular portion of 2 Thes. you had in mind with regards to nonviolence? I think it gives great testimony to The Way being characterized by self sacrifice, patience, endurance, love, all of which is non-violent. The church was enduring great persecution and Paul was commending them for their response.

Re: Jesus, please put down your whip.

Concerned — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 23:23:36 -0000

Whats does 2 Thessalonians say about nonviolence.

Re: Myths of Pacifism: One

martyrologist — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 17:04:36 -0000

While I agree that pacifism isn't exclusive to Christianity, I would say that quite emphatically pacifism is a Christian thing. Pacifism is peacemaking, and that can in no way be separated from Christianity.

Re: Myths of Pacifism: One

Celtictinne — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 19:25:30 -0000

Well interesting, Pacifism isn't a Christian thing. Many religions preach and practice pacifism. Many non-religious people are also pacifist. It is making non-violent and peaceful choices in one's personal and political life.

Re: Rotten Pickles

salt water flush — Tue, 24 May 2011 08:49:10 -0000

I'll post the same information to my blog, thanks for
ideas and great article.

Re: Do you support carrying guns into churches?

preacherblb — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 14:09:45 -0000

I do & have ever since Texas changed the law to allow concealed carry in church. Our pastor, his son-in-law, 3 of our deacons, and several church members do also. In the past few years there have been several church shootings by lunatics that just walk in off the street & not church members. If we are able to stop someone who has pulled a gun and save some lives we have done well.

In Luke 22:36 we read "He (Jesus) said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one." We know from the incident at Jesus' arrest that at least one disciple (Peter) carried a sword. I'm sure he didn't carry it to filet his fish. Jesus knew what things were going to be like for Christians and wanted us to be able to defend ourselves.

Today the handgun is the sword of the first century.

Re: Pain, Exhaustion, Depression

Gluten Intolerance — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 23:11:47 -0000

I like you story KimbrahG. The way I read your teary story also makes me feel sick. I can imagine what you are having those three symptoms of Fibromyalgia. Every morning I also it, but I know, it’s just a morning sickness. Just keep stronger and praise for the Lord. Prayer is the best healing and medicine.

Re: Pain, Exhaustion, Depression

KimbrahG — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:38:40 -0000

I just wanted to let you know how much you encouraged me today. I am writing this with tears in my eyes as I appreciate the time, energy, and the baring of your heart that this took just to encourage me. Thank you so much! It meant more to me than you can imagine. And I agree, you do have a very precious and wonderful daughter-in-law. :)

Re: Pain, Exhaustion, Depression

Grampy-diddly — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:35:03 -0000

You know something? I have found out through the years that there is a plethora of good well meaning Christians who have stories of how they overcame this or that problem; many who have found a Biblical way to good health; someone who has heard of someone who has had great results with a new health pill, or diet that will give you perfect health; the smiley get more of the ‘Joy of the Lord’ crowd; and of course, those who are subtly or not so subtly trying to find out what you did or didn’t do to have this (lack of quiet time, not enough time in the word, not tithing enough, lack of faith, or some hidden evil desire). I probably have missed some… and probably been some of these at times.

As Christians we have taken on society’s idea that there is a fix for everything. You know the verse. “For God so loved the world that he FIXED IT.” That would have been a whole lot easier than what he did. And we like the easy fix. All of the above, plus send them some money and a card.

Of course the verse is:
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”.

I am glad that you have a wise woman as a friend who said that we are sick, for no better reason than that we live in a fallen world and there is sickness in that fallen world. God gave his son to a fallen world that ‘whoever’ or I like the older translation ‘whosoever’(that means absolutely anyone) believes in him will not perish when this fallen world ends, but will have everlasting life.

You are probably saying right now, “Get to the Point. I am hurting and exhausted!” So, am I, and I will get to that soon.

The point is God did not ‘fix’ the world. He sent his son who ‘overcame’ the world. I think people who have fibromyalgia or other painful and (I will use the word) debilitating conditions can really understand what Jesus meant in John 16:33 “I have spoken these things to you that you may have peace in Me. You have distress in the world; but be encouraged, I have overcome the world.”

I am almost to the end…. I think… You may hope? (My humor is really off?)

To me this means:
1. I don’t have to fix myself. Jesus didn’t fix the world so we could fix ourselves to be a useful part of His Kingdom.
2. An eternity of pain free life with unlimited energy puts this time of ‘distress’ in a whole different perspective.
3. My witness and ministry are unaffected by my chronic condition. In a way Jesus had a chronic condition that ended after 3 ½ years of ministry. He had to suffer, die and be resurrected to ‘overcome’ sin and death and the world.
4. God uses the weakness of people to show his power.
5. I don’t have to fix anyone else.

I want to paint a picture of where I was in the past to get a perspective on where I am now. In general I was a pretty laid back person who enjoyed life. Our family motto (informally) was ‘we can do that.’ In 1989 I rode across ND for the Lung association. 405 mile in 5 days. If you are a bicyclist that means 3 - 100 mile (century) rides, plus 2 more long rides. Over 100 degree highs for each day plus we were going east and we had a wind at 20 to 25 mph coming at us the whole way. I completed the entire trip even when there were days that the State Highway Patrol were pulling bicyclist from the group off the road because it was too dangerous to be on the road.

I normally rode bicycle to and from work (12 miles) each day plus rode 20 miles each weekday and 40 on Saturday. We had 5 children 3 of them were ‘special needs’ and adopted into our family. We had a half acre organic garden, and raised produce to sell (to pay for garden expenses) and canned and froze the rest including apples, cherries, and wild plums that we had planted or were growing on our 2 acre lot. I built play houses, forts, all kinds of cool play equipment from lumber and parts gathered in very creative ways. Plus, I spent a lot of time with my kids.

I worked 40 hours per week at a job with quite a bit of statewide travel. With a houseful of kids, we remodeled our kitchen, and other rooms in our house that needed constant fixing.

I was very involved in my church, leading adult Sunday School, cooking for many events, starting a drama ministry, and leading a weekly Sunday night ‘Prayer and Praise’ service.

So, today I am sitting at my computer, a young 55 (still working on what I’ll be when I grow up!), retired from a job I loved, and unable to do most of the things above, plus a myriad of others because of my disability.

I have Sjogren’s Syndrome, fibromyalgia (which may just be a part of my Sjogren’s, peripheral neuropathy, reynaud’s syndrome and a whole lot more.

I actually am having a bad week, the pain is going past ‘5’ on the ‘1 to 10’ pain scale which you may already be tired of doctors and practitioners asking you!! And, I am on some serious painkillers. I was diagnosed with Sjogren’s in 2008 but since then have figured that I have had some version of it for at least 20 years.

I get fatigued easily and am easily distracted. I started this yesterday, and have taken several breaks this morning already.

During the past 10 years, I started to have symptoms of fatigue, and other seemingly unrelated symptoms. I would have considered myself very healthy prior to that, healthy food from Organic Garden and active member of health-food store. As symptoms increased, I think I tried every alternative to prescription medications, including enzyme analysis and a bunch of other things. For me, nothing made a difference, but I am different. Actually, I was created by my creator as a unique one of a kind person, so things that help others may not help me. Don’t tell my friend who sells Mellaluca (tea tree oil) that I said that! LOL

I would love to have things under control by a healthy Organic, gluten free, MSG free, sugar free, processed food free, etc… But, the bottom line is that we live in a fallen broken world that we cannot fix, and we at some point have to rely on physicians (who are still practicing…LOL) to prescribe medications that may or may not work on you. I changed doctors several times till I found one that could give recommendations on what he knew, and would use specialists to help identify what he didn’t know.

I am currently on a number of medications that we have balance out over the years. If someone adds a new medication, I work with my doctor to see if we can lower the dosage or remove another, which has happened.

I know this is getting long, but I have energy to do this right now, so am including a lot.

When I look back, I realize that I probably compensated for symptoms for a long time and finally couldn’t compensate anymore. So sheer mind over matter doesn’t work either.

This may be a bit fragmented, but hopefully you are not feeling totally hopeless. Because, there is hope.

Now a little after 1 year of being unemployed and being at home, I realize that God still meets our needs. I had as usual planned to accomplish a lot more than I actually got done. I feel like I didn’t get anything done, but my sense of time is changing. God is in charge, and some of us are running on his timetable and not ours!! I’m learning.

Even though I am now exhausted and need to take a break, I know I was able to share my story with you and tell you God is faithful and He gives peace in time of ‘distress’.

You can be encouraged knowing that He ‘overcame’ the world so you wouldn’t have to fix it. Please feel free to contact me. I’d love to listen and share with you. You are not alone in your pain.

Actually, In this week with pain and fatigue, when I was feeling really alone and useless. My daughter in law sent me the link to your blog. (She is the best daughter in law I could have expected. She is such a creative loving person and a very real honest Christian woman.) That email and your blog was what I needed.

With that I leave you with a blessing.
Father, give your daughter your peace which does pass all understanding. Free her from the standards of this broken world, and bring healing to her. In the precious name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen (So be it)

Re: Diagnosis: Fibromyalgia

KimbrahG — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 21:56:15 -0000

Thanks for commenting and welcome to our blog! :) I am glad to hear that your cousin is starting to feel better. :)

Re: Diagnosis: Fibromyalgia

KimbrahG — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 21:54:16 -0000

Thanks Jason. :)

Re: Diagnosis: Fibromyalgia

Gluten Intolerance — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 21:16:07 -0000

My cousin was diagnosed with this kind of illness. I really pity her with her condition. But She is already getting better and better everyday because of the doctor and her family's support.

Re: Diagnosis: Fibromyalgia

Jason Cormier — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 14:43:40 -0000

My family is praying for yours...